Renoir, Pierre-Auguste (1841-1919)
Chrysanthèmes (Chrysanthemums)
1881–1882
Oil on canvas, 54.8 × 65.8 cm
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
“I just let my brain rest when I paint flowers,” Pierre-Auguste Renoir remarked. “I don’t experience the same tension as I do when confronted by the model. When I am painting flowers, I establish the tones, I study the values carefully without worrying about losing the picture. I don’t dare do this with a figure piece for fear of ruining it.” (AIC)